Page 6 of This Time I'm Keeping You
“Now that’s too bad, because someone is checking you out before you move.”
“I don’t want to get in that ambulance alone.”
“Are you asking me to stay with you, Poppy?”
She nodded, the desperate look in her eyes slicing through him.
“Somebody get a pen and write this down.Poppy Sylvester has asked me to stay with her,” he teased.
“Just until the hospital.Please, Nick.I’d rather have a face I-I know… well, did know.Even if it’s yours.”
The color drained from her cheeks as she watched the medics get out of the ambulance.
“These people are going to help you, Poppy.”
“P-promise, Nick.”Her good hand grabbed his shirt.
“Promise,” he said.
“I’m guessing you’re the reason we’re here?”
“Yeah, she just got mugged,” Nick said to the guy now crouching beside them.Poppy kept silent.She hadn’t even looked at the man, instead keeping her eyes fixed on the hand she still had clenched around his shirt.
“What’s your name?”
“Poppy Sylvester.”
“The writer?”
Nick nodded, and when the medic looked his way, he glanced down at Poppy.They had some kind of telepathic guy moment, and then the ambulance driver nodded.
“So, Poppy, my name’s Jason, and this is Miranda.”
“Hey, Poppy,” a voice said from behind Nick.
“I’m going to check you over now,” Jason added.
“You promised!”
Nick had just been moving aside to let Miranda take his space, but Poppy was not letting go of his shirt.
“I’m not going anywhere, just moving to make some room for the second medic.”Prying her fingers free, he repositioned to her feet where she could see him.
They worked fast and efficiently, with either Jason or Miranda talking to Poppy.She kept her eyes either on him or clenched shut as they checked her over.He smiled when she looked at him, but she never returned the gesture.
Hard to believe that recently she was all attitude and pissed off when he’d asked her to have coffee with him.She looked vulnerable and small now, and it made his chest hurt.
“Nick.”
“Right here,” he said, moving to her side as the medics retrieved the bed to carry her on.
“Could you call someone for m-me before you leave?My aunt is expecting me to FaceTime her, but I don’t have my phone.”Poppy’s voice was thin and shaky.
He took the hand she had clenched into a fist.
“I said I’d come with you, have a little faith in me, woman.”
Her eyes shot to his.“Why?”
